Window frame construction



Sept. 13, 1955 Filed Oct. 1, 1955 J. c. BANCROFT 2,717,667

WINDOW FRAME CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 7L C. (7559 0 BY fiancrqffi Sept. 13, 1955 J, c. BANCROFT wmnow FRAME CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1953 R w n X N m W O N w l A (b59251, C(B

United States Patent WINDQW FRAME CONSTRUCTION Joseph C. Bancroft, Jamestown, N. Y. Application October 1, 1953, Serial No. 383,483

6 Claims. (Cl. 189-76) This invention relates to windows, and more particularly to those of the metal casement type. One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for uniting or securing together the various parts of the window or casement frame, and especially at the corners thereof, and toprovide a pivot bracket at the required corners of the frame.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 381,006, filed September 18, 1953, I have shown and described a novel means for securing the window-frame members together at the corners, and it is an object of the present invention to provide means by which a pivot bracket may be provided, and which bracket shall be provided with locking or connection means by which it will not only be maintained rigidly and securely in position but will be useful in holding together the abutting frame members.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pivot bracket formed with a locking strip that is swaged in a groove provided in the frame members, which bracket shall be formed with an offset or shoulder between which and the locking strip, flanges of the frame members shall be engaged and firmly maintained.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanyingdrawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a face view of a corner portion of a window or casement frame, showing the improved bracket mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the pivot bracket removed from the window frame;

Fig. 5 is a view, looking at the opposite side of the bracket;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the corner of the window frame showing the pivot bracket applied thereto;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the base portion of the bracket, showing the offset or shoulder portion thereof and the connection strip or key;

Fig. 8 is a face view of a part of one of the window frame members, showing the slot therein for the reception of the bracket;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the bracket;

Fig. 10 is a face view of one of the connection strips or keys, and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates one of the frame members of a metallic casement sash, and 2 indicates the similar second member thereof. These mem- A 2,717,667 Patented Sept. 13, 19.55

ice

bers are made of metal, and preferably, but not neces sarily, of aluminum. The suggestedcross-sectional shape of each of the frame members land 2 is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein .it will .be noted that .each of these frame members is roughly Z-shaped .in cross section, and is thus provided with the innerand outer face flanges indicated at 3 and 4 integrally connected by the web 5. Provided in one face of the .flange -.4 is a continuous, longitudinally-extending undercutgroove or channel 6, and a similar undercut groove-or channel 7 is formed in a face of the flange 3. Theendofeach of the frame members 1 and 2 isbeveled, as indicated respectively at 8 and 9, and when these two beveled ends are brought into abutment, the two frame members 1 and. 2 will be disposed at true right .angles .toone another. It will be noted that the. two grooves are disposed on opposite sides .of the web S'and that said grooves have their open sides directed toward one another, or in other words, they face in opposite directions. As shown in Fig. 8, each of the frame members 1 and 2 is provided with an elongated slot extending inwardly from its beveled end. The pivot bracket, generally indicated at 11, has parts fitting in these slots.

The means for coupling together the two frame members in their right-angular relationship consists of two L-shaped angle pieces or keys constituting. connection members, and which are slidably fitted within and then distorted or expanded in the grooves 6 and 7. One of these connection members is shown at 12 in Fig. 10 before it is fitted in place in the groove 6 and before it has been distorted or expanded. in said groove. In Fig. 6 it is also shown in its undistorted position in the groove 6. The key or connection member. 12 consists of a substantially L-shaped or angular elongated strip of deformable metal, such as aluminum, which hasthe two legs indicated respectively at 13 and .14, disposed at right angles to one another. A notch shown at 26 located at the junction of the two legs 13'and 14,. facilitates the bending of the strip into the required rightangle position or L-shape. As will be. clearly seen in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 11, this key or connection member is transverselyarched as indicated. at 15 for its entire length. Two of these connection members are used, one of which is that shown at 12in Fig. 10, and the other is shown M16 and is attached to and forms a part of the pivot bracket 11. The key or connection member 16 onthe bracket 11 is received in the groove 7 of the frame members 1 and,2.'

The pivot bracket 11 consists of a pair of integrallyconnected plates 17 and l8 disp osed at right angles to one another. These plates fit in the slots 10in the frame members 1 and 2 and the bracket projects forwardly of the frame. The plate portion 18 isformed at its end with a rounded lug 19 having a hole 20 for the reception of the pivot pin or rivet by which this bracket is attached to a mounting bracket provided on the fixed frame of the window;

At its base end, the bracket 11 is formed 'with an offset portion 22 resulting in the formation of a shoulder 22a which rests against the outer face of the flange 3 of the frame member, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. A flange 23 extends downwardly from the ofiset 22, and said flange 23 is rigidly and perhaps integrally secured to the key or connection strip 16. I

In the assembly of the window frame, the legs of the connection members 12 and16 are-fitted into the two grooves 6 and 7 by sliding the two frame members 1 and 2 toward one another until their beveled ends 8 and 9 come into abutment. The slots 10 fit around the flange 23 of the bracket 11. It will now be noted that the flange 3 of the members 1 and 2 is embraced between the shoulder 22 and the strip or key 16. The keys or connection members 12 and 16 are anchored in the grooves 6 and 7 to thereby maintain the parts of the frame in their assembled relationship as seen in Fig. 1.

The parts 1 and 2 of the frame are now firmly held together by suitable jigs, clamps or other supports, and the pressure of suitable swaging tools is applied upon at least portions of the arched legs 13 and 14 of the two keys or connection members, which pressure is preferably, but not necessarily applied to both keys at once While the frame elements are securely held in place. It will be noted that by the force exerted by the swaging tools, the end portions of the two legs of each of the connection members or keys 12 and 16 have been flattened or reversely deformed as shown at 25 in a manner to thereby increase the effective widths of these parts of the keys or connection members so that the keys are now securely wedged within the grooves 6 and 7 and are immovable therein. The key 12 might also be deformed at a central point, as indicated at 27 to aid in securely holding it in place. The result is that the frame members 1 and 2 become securely locked together in their proper angular relationship as indicated in Fig. 1.

The bracket 11 is also firmly anchored, since by the formation of the shoulder 22a thereon and the engagement of the flange 3 between the shoulder and the key or connection strip 16, the bracket is locked to the frame members; it resists horizontal and vertical force and easily supports the weight of the window sash.

It will be herein noted that the present invention has been described as applicable to window frames. However, since the invention can also be used in conjunction with the construction of doors and other rectangular frames, I wish to be understood when herein referring to window frames as meaning any other frame to which the invention is applicable. It will of course be understood that the glass panes and materials for holding the same have been omitted for clarity in illustrating the features of the invention.

Having described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a window frame construction, a pair of frame members placed together at right angles to form a corner of the frame, each of the frame members being provided with a slot extending inwardly from one of its ends, the slots meeting at the joint between the frame members and forming a continuous angular slot, an angle-member constituting a pivot bracket for the frame extending through the angular slot, said angle member having an off-set portion forming a shoulder resting against the outer faces of the frame members, an L-shaped connection strip secured to one end of the angle-member and spaced from the shoulder thereon, the frame members being grooved in one of their faces, the connection strip fitting in said groove and being distorted therein to thereby increase its width and tightly expand it in the groove to thereby hold the frame members in their right angular position, the frame members each having a flange por- I tion disposed between the shoulder and the connection strip.

2. In a window frame construction, a sash frame having a pair of frame members placed together at right angles and with their ends in angular abutment, said frame members being slotted adjacent to their abutting ends, an angular bracket having a part extending through the slots in the frame members, said bracket having an off-set portion disposed forwardly of the slots and arranged in contact with the outer face of the frame members, an angular connection strip secured to the bracket and disposed at the rear of the slots, and the frame members having a groove complementary in shape to the connection member, the said connection member being located in the groove and distorted therein to increase its width and wedge it in the groove to thereby hold the frame members and the angular bracket immovably connected together.

3. A hinge bracket for attachment to a casement window sash comprising an angular member having two plate portions integrally joined at right angles to one another, snid plate portions being offset at one end to form a shoulder for abutment against the outer face of a sash frame, the plate portions having parts extending rearzwar ly of the shoulder for disposition in slots provided in the sash, and an angular strip member secured at the end of the rearWardly-extending parts, said strip members being received in grooves provided in the sash and operative to hold parts of the sash together at right angles.

4. In a window frame construction, a pair of frame members having angularly abutting ends, said frame members being disposed at right angles to one another, each of the frame members being provided with a pair of open-face grooves, a distorted angular strip in one of the grooves, a distorted angular strip in the second groove, the frame members being provided with slots registering with the second strip, an angular pivot-receiving bracket having parts extending through said slots and secured to the second strip, the bracket having an offset portion, and parts of the frame members being located between said offse portion and the strip to which the bracket is attached.

5. in a Window frame construction, a pair of frame members dispose-d with their ends in angular abutment, the frame members being arranged at right angles to one another, the frame members being slotted inwardly from the point of abutment, an angular bracket composed of two plate sections integrally joined at right angles, an offset portion on the bracket located at the base of the plate sections, said offset portion lying in contact with the outer face of the frame members, one end of said offset portion having a flange extending through the slots in the frame members, a strip at the end of said flange, the frame members having a groove in their rear faces in which said strip is arranged and is locked against movement to thereby hold the frame members and the bracket together, a portion of each of the frame members being disposed between the offset portion of the bracket and said strip.

6. In a window frame construction, a frame having a pair of members formed with angularly abutting ends, each frame member having a groove in its rear face, the frame members being slotted, an angular hinge bracket extending through the slot and projecting forwardly from the frame members, and an angular strip fixed at the base of the bracket, said strip being located in the groove in the frame members and laterally expanded within said groove to wedge therein and hold the frame members together in their angular relationship while rigidly attaching the bracket thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,761 McKnight June 4, 1912 2,101,349 Sharp Dec. 7, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 439,603 Italy Sept. 22, 1948 872,847 Germany Apr. 9, 1953 

